Ambassador Joseph Adam Ereli, gives opening statement at the Iranian opposition Christmas ceremony at the Hill-December 2018

This week a bipartisan coalition of American congressmen announced an initiative to support anti-regime protests in Iran. The Congressional event, which was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the ongoing nationwide protests in Iran, was an opportunity for congressmen from both sides of the aisle to both express their support for the protests and condemn Iran’s corrupt and brutal regime.

Judy Chu (D-CA) remarked that she was proud to co-sponsor the Congressional resolution that both condemns the Iranian regime for its sponsorship of terrorism and supports the people of Iran and their fight for a “free, democratic, and secular future.”

Tom McClintock (R-CA) specifically mentioned the MEK in his words of support for the resolution. McClintock said: “As the journey of the mullahs has become more extreme, the international resistance to them has become more resolute. We’ve seen this in the liberation of the MEK freedom fighters trapped in Iraq. [We’ve also] seen it with the 105 of my colleagues, here in the House of Representatives who co-sponsored my bill, House Resolution 1034 that we affirmed our committed support of the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic of Iran.”

The bipartisan group of congressmen noted that the outcome of the recent midterm elections in the U.S., which shifted the balance of power to the Democratic Party, would not change the United States’ commitment to the Iranian people and their fight for freedom from the oppressive Iranian regime.

Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) said: “The change of Congress will not stop us from fighting for victory. A new majority is in power [in the House of Representatives]. Please know that democracy will not be far from our heart, our mind and our lips.”

Steve Cohen (D-TN), Co-chair of the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, also vowed to continue to condemn the

Iranian regime for its human rights violations and its support for terrorism.

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) noted that “It’s so important for the United States to not lose its focus [on Iran].”

Many of the congressmen present also used the occasion to note the influence of the Iranian Resistance in organizing the protests and how fearful the regime has become in the face of an uprising that could signal the end of the Islamic Republic.

Ted Poe (R-TX) directly addressed the Iranian Americans in the audience, lauding them for their work on behalf of the Iranian people and for “keeping [the mullahs] awake at night.”

Brad Sherman (D-CA) specifically commended Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, leader of the Iranian Opposition, for her work on behalf of women’s and minorities’ rights in Iran, while Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) addressed every member of the Iranian Resistance. He said: “The love of liberty burns in your heart. All the way from the time of Camp Ashraf where innocent people, unarmed people were being slaughtered by the mullahs’ regime…and yes, right now…all freedom loving people, in supporting those people who are now in the streets in Iran demanding that the mullahs leave.”

Staff Writer